Improvement in propelling boats



.BLACK &IL W.10NES. PropeHing Boats.

Paented Nov. 18,1873."

No.l44,732.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE,

JAMES BLACK AND GEORGE W. JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPELLlNG BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,732, dated November 18, 187,1 3 application filed t April 11, 1873. l

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, JAMES BLACK and GEORGE W. J ONES, in the city of Philadelphia ments, into which it is divided from front to rear, have each an opening to the water (in which the vessel floats) at the bottom and rear part thereof. Each compartment of the rudder stands, therefore, filled with water to the level of the surrounding water. Steain, or, by a proper arrangement, steam and air, is now admitted from a suitable boiler, by a suitable valve, upon the surface of the water in each half of the rudder alternately; and the water contained therein is forced out of the open pipe or orifice rearward, thereby propelling the Vboat forward with the power due to the weight and velocity of the water projected. The `steam flow is now shifted to the adjoining compartment, and, a valve being opened for the escape or condensation of the steam in the rst one, the water, by the natural pressure due to the difference of level, iows in again to rell it through the permanent opening at the bottom, and also, by a flap-valve opening inward near the bottom of the rudder, to aid in refilling it more rapidly. rIhis refilling of the iirst half takes place while the steam is entering and forcing the water out of the second, thus keeping up a continuous propelling force.

By our process nothing but a boiler is required on the boat-no other space occupied or weight abstracted from its carrying capacitythe propulsionbeing induced solely by the direct action ofthe steamand air in the water in our rudder.

The hollow rudder, though larger than pres ent rudders, will float itself, as in action one halfof its cavities are always filled with air and steam.

Ifdesirable, instead of the steam-chest be;y ing attached to the upper part of the rudder, it can be placed in the stern of the boat, and

communicate by iexible conveying-pipes to the rudder; but, preferably, we would place it as in the drawing, in order that the valves for ingress and egress of steam for one compartment may be moved automatically by the inflow and outllow of water from thef other comi partment, and also that the pipe for the sup- No steam en'gine or other machinery being necessary, canal-boats and all others can be changed by this application of ours without any alterations to themselves, a new rudder, as it were, only replacin g the old one.

When passing locks, the rudder can be brought fiat to the stern of the boat, as usual.

For backing the boat, a valve or gate will close the usualjorilice and open a corresponding one at the opposite foot of the rudder.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe stern end of the boat, and of the rudder embodying our invention and its application. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

A is the rudder. B B are the pipes out which the water is projected. Gis the steam chest to supply both compartments; D, the

steam-pipe from boiler to chest 5 E, the boiler.

F are the steering-chains secured to the rear top of the rudder. G is the barrel-shaft of hand-wheel, on which the chain ends are secured, one above and the other under.

A double hollow rudder, into which water is admitted and forced out again alternately,

thereby propelling a boat or vessel, substantially as hereinbeforeset forth.

` JAMES BLACK.

GEORGE W. JONES.`

Witnesses:

WM. P. HIBBERD, j GEORGE `W. J ONES.. 

